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Background: Several studies have investigated the role of laser ablation of anal fistulae in the European setting. However, long-term follow-up results following laser fistula ablations are not widely investigated and no study was performed in the Asia-Pacific, a region with a distinctive prevalence of tuberculosis. The primary objective of this study is to report a single-centre experience with laser ablation of anal fistulae in Malaysia over a period of 6 years.Method: This was a retrospective observational study assessing the outcomes following 70 laser ablations of anal fistulae from February 2014 till December 2019. All cases were assessed using endoanal ultrasound. The laser ablation procedures were performed using laser systems and fibres from Endoteq Medizinische Laser GmBH, Germany, and Biolitec AG, Jena, Germany. Laser fibres were introduced into the fistula tract and laser energy was emitted radially in continuous mode when activated during the procedure. Pre-defined post-procedural outcomes (primary healing, healing failure or recurrence) were recorded as either present or absent during subsequent follow-up appointments and the data was analysed.Results: Over a median follow-up period of 10 months, primary healing was reported following 42 procedures (60.0%). Healing failure was reported following 28 procedures (40.0%) whilst recurrence was seen after 16 procedures (22.86%). No new cases of incontinence were reported following the procedure.Conclusion: The reported primary healing rate following laser ablation of anal fistulae in this study appears consistent with existing literature published by other international centres. The most apparent clinical advantage of this procedure is sphincter-function preservation. However, the primary healing rate after isolated laser fistula ablation is still suboptimal. Judicious patient selection and application in anal fistulae with suitable characteristics could potentially improve the post-procedural outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how Salat (prayer) in Islam moderates the relationship between job stress and life satisfaction among Muslim nursing staff. The researchers sampled 335 nursing staff employed at the University of Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Their ages ranged from 21 to 60 years. The findings indicate the job stress was associated negatively with life satisfaction; there is a strong positive and significant correlation, respectively, between Salat and life satisfaction and that Salat reduces stress and increases the life satisfaction of Muslim nurses. Thus, Salat has a moderating effect on job stress and life satisfaction of Muslim nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing popularity among researchers, scholars, and policymakers concerning the efficacy of prayer as a coping strategy for job stress. This study examines the moderating effects of prayer and age on the relationship between job stress and nurses' well-being in UMMC. Three hundred (300) Muslim nursing staff working at the University of Malaya Medical Centre were sampled. Data were collected via questionnaires. The findings of this study show that the effect of job stress on well-being is significant for nurses and that prayer of nurses contributed to alleviating job stress and enhancing well-being. This study is limited to nurses in one public hospital in a developing country. Thus, it would be more interesting if the study could be extended to other public and private institutions in a Muslim country, and a comparison could be done between other religions as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paediatric patients are more vulnerable to drug administration errors due to a lack of appropriate drug dosages and strengths for use in this group of patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the extent and types of drug administration errors in two paediatric wards and to identify measures to reduce such errors. A researcher was stationed in two paediatric wards of a teaching hospital to observe all drugs administered to paediatric inpatients in each of the ward, for 1 day in a week over ten consecutive weeks. All data were recorded in a data collection form and then compared with the actual drugs and dosages prescribed for the patients. Of the 857 drug administrations observed, 100 doses had errors, and this gave an error rate of 11.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 9.5-13.9%]. If wrong time administration errors were excluded, the error rate reduced to 7.8% (95% CI 6.0-9.6%). The most common types of drug administration errors were incorrect time of administration (28.8%), followed by incorrect drug preparation (26%), omission errors (16.3%) and incorrect dose (11.5%). None of the errors observed were considered as potentially life threatening, although 40.4% could possibly cause patient harm. Drug administration errors are as common in paediatric wards in Malaysia as in other countries. Double-checking should be conducted, as this could reduce drug administration errors by about 20%, but collaborative efforts between all healthcare professionals are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]